Perhaps the Formula 1 news vacuum during the summer break is prompting some creative journalism, or alternatively allowing journos extra time to really dig for the truth and coming up with sensational scoops…

Whatever the case, latest silly season reports are claiming that Kimi Raikkonen has already decided to return to Ferrari next year, according to major Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

Raikkonen, whose two-year rallying sabbatical began after Ferrari ended his contract and signed Fernando Alonso for 2010, has been more strongly linked with a move from Lotus to Red Bull.

Ilta-Sanomat said that its report was based on information of its “sources”.

Kimi Raikkonen might be back in a Ferrari race suit next year

The newspaper added that Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz is keen to sign Ferrari’s current number 1 Fernando Alonso for 2014, despite the Spaniard’s long contract.

Many in the paddock, however, see the prospect of Alonso’s pairing with reigning multiple world champion Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull as highly unlikely.

“I was surprised by these [media] reports,” admitted Daniel Juncadella, a young Spanish driver who is being linked with a future at Williams.

“It’s quite hard to believe,” he told Russia’s Championat. “Of course he would have a very good chance to become world champion again if he was at Red Bull – but we’ll see.”

Raikkonen won the 2007 Formula 1 world championship as a Ferrari driver.(GMM)